PROJECT HAVE DOUGHNUT - EXPLOITATION OF THE MIG-21
Transcript of PROJECT HAVE DOUGHNUT - EXPLOITATION OF THE MIG-21
Foreign Technology Division
PROJECT HAVE DOUGHNUT -EXPLOITATION OF THE MIG-21
Rob Young Historian
National Air and Space Intelligence Center
This Briefing is Classified:
UNCLASSIFIED//APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
The Mystery MiG
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Project Background
• The U.S. borrowed a Soviet-built MiG-21F-13 FISHBED E from 23 January 1968 to 8 April1968
• The Foreign Technology Division of AFSC led the exploitation utilizing expertise from AFFTC, ASD, TAC, NWC
• The purpose was to substantiate and supplement existing threat data
• Included ground and flight testing
• 102 flights (77 flying hours) in 40 days of flying
• The U.S. gave the jet back when they were done with it
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USAF MiG-21 F-13 80965
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What did we have?
• HAVE DOUGHNUT was an export MiG-21F-13 {Article 74) • The aircraft manufacture date was last quarter, 1963
• The aircraft had approximately 135 hours on it- the engine had 165 hours
• No ATOLL missiles included in the deal -substituted AIM-98 Sidewinders (which were almost identical anyway)
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HAVE DOUGHNUT Cockpit
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On-site Modifications
AFFTC Performance Evaluation
• Performance Sorties
• Stability & Control Sorties
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9 • Site-installed instrumentation
• Oscillograph
• Gyros
• Fuel Flow Meters
• Photo Panel
(in nose)
• Instrument panel
• Cockpit
• Battery
• UHF radio
12 channels - nav light switch/cannon switch
Pitch, Roll, Yaw ... plus rates- vertical tail
Total and Normal
Airspeed, Altitude, Mach, Free Air Temp, &
Clock
A-13 clock, airspeed, altimeter, Mach, accelerometer, stop watch, engine fuel temp
two Triad 16mm cameras, voice recording system
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Missile configuration
•Non-firing AIM-98 used to replace ATOLLS •AIM-9 rail with laminated plywood/fiberglass and steel fittings • No performance change except slight improvement at low speed
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Operational Data
• Days Available 52
• Days Flown 40 • Days Cancelled Due to Weather 8
• Days Cancelled Due to Maintenance 4
• Sorties Scheduled 134
• Sorties Flown 102 • Sorties Cancelled Due to Weather 21
• Sorties Cancelled Due to Maintenance 11
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MiG-21 Flight Test
Sortie Breakdown
• USAF Tactical 33
• USN Tactical 25 • USAF Performance, Stability & Control 26
• Air Defense Command 4
• Strategic Air Command 2
• Infra Red 9 • Radar Cross Section 1
• Photo 1 • Acceptance Flight 1 • Total Sorties 102
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AFFTC Lessons Learned
• Power checked at Mil power prior to brake release .. brakes would not hold in afterburner
• Rudder effectiveness occurred at 45 kt
• Nosewheelliftoff at 114 KIAS {with full aft stick)
• At 15,400 lbs, with 30 degree {full) flaps, takeoff speed was 165 KIAS
• Afterburner would not light when selected until after military thrust was achieved
• Stabilator was the only trimmable control surface
• The engine did not ever stall
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Maintenance
• MiG-21 Aircraft at Test Site
• Reassembly
• Bell Mouth Ground Run
• Disassembly • Aircraft Available to Fly
• Scheduled Maintenance {50 hr insp) • Unscheduled Maintenance {susp engine prob)
• Six men serviced and maintained the MiG-21
75 days
15 days
3 days
5 days 52 days
2 days
2 days
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• 12 Feb 68 • 24 Feb 68 • 28 Feb 68 • 5 March 68 • 11 Mar 68 • 27 March
Maintenance Discrepancies
#1 Boost pump inoperative EGT Malfunction {harness frayed) Frayed brake cable Oil System {6 sorties lost) EGT Malfunction EGT malfunction
• The oil system did not malfunction .. unfamiliarity with the aircraft made a clogged oil filter seem like a major problem
• Still, only 11 sorties lost. The U.S. jets didn't come close to that
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Findings: the bottom line
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MiG-21 Good Features
• Simplicity; Ease of Flying- It's a good, honest aircraft!
• Reliability and Maintainability (20 minute turn around)
• Cross-Sectional Area
• Engine Exhaust Smoke
• 3-wheel brake concept
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MiG-21 Shortcomings
• Visibility
• Engine Response
• Low Altitude Transonic Vibration
• Formation Flying
• Flying in Turbulence
• Night Flying
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MiG-21 "Unique Design Features"
• Very Low Wing Loading (50-55 psf}
• Lacquer Coating for Corrosion Prevention
• Ejection System (SK-1 seat and canopy)
• Air Intake (3-position, normal, Mach 1.5, Mach 1.9)
• Seat Position
• Low Maintenance Requirements • No roll, pitch, yaw stability augmentation
• Cooled Navigation Lights
• Optimized Cross Section
• Smooth only where it needed to be
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U.S.A.F. and U.S. Navy Responses to the Project
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What did we do?
• The Navy created TOP GUN in 1969 and experienced strong results against the MiG-21 when they encountered it in 1972
• The Air Force did not create a dissimilar air combat program until1972/73
• In June/July 1972, the Vietnamese MiG-21 held a 9:1 airto-air kill ratio over the USAF
• The Air Force created Red Flag to give its pilots a better edge in the fight
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• G-load factor • Max indicated airspeed • Maximum indicated Mach • Strike radius
What we learned
Sgs without stores, 6 with stores 595 kt below 15,000 ft, 640 kt above 15,000 ft 2.05 without stores, 1.6 with stores 370 NM with external fuel
• Poor forward and rearward visibility F-4 acquired at 3-5 miles range • Low Q limit Below 15,000 limited to .98 Mach or 595kt- severe buffet • Afterburner puff Above 15,000 FISHBED E produces a puff in/out of AB • Engine response • Cockpit noise • Gunsight capabilities
• Slow speed • Easy to kill
Extremely slow Extremely low 3.7NM, missile mode; 1.6NM, gun. Gun/missile target tracking impossible over 3gs The MiG-21 could maneuver at 115 KIAS Non-sealing tanks, unprotected engine, light metal structure, high pressure 02 bottles- 85o/o kill probability
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Comparisons with US aircraft
-r
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